Russian President Putin meets with visiting top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday met with visiting top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in St. Petersburg, Russia, saying Russia is willing to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with China and push Russia-China relations to a new level.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, expressed China's confidence in the mutual trust and friendship between the two countries. 

China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is developing in a sound and steady manner, Wang noted.

He said, "China is willing to maintain strategic communication with Russia to unite more like-minded countries and advance the process of a multipolar world."

Speaking on the upcoming BRICS summit to be held in Russia's Kazan next month, Wang told Putin that China will offer full support to Russia and work with BRICS countries to make "BRICS contributions" to building a global community of shared future.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, they also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, and Putin reiterated that Russia is always open to peace talks, saying that he appreciates the six common understandings China and Brazil reached in May on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. 

For his part, Wang reaffirmed that China is committed to promoting the political settlement of the crisis and stands ready to work with all parties to bring together objective, rational and balanced voices from the international community.

(Cover image via Chinese Foreign Ministry)